Ipomoea plant named ‘Kyuikukan 2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Ipomoea  plant named ‘Kyuikukan 2’, characterized by its compact and outwardly trailing growth habit; and bright green-colored young foliage and dark purple-colored mature foliage.

Botanical designation: Ipomoea batatas.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Kyuikukan 2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea,botanically known as Ipomoea batatas, and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Kyuikukan 2’.

The new Ipomoea is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventors in Miyazaki, Japan. The objective of the breeding programis to create new compact Ipomoea cultivars with attractive foliage shapeand coloration.

The new cultivar originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventors in June, 2001 of a proprietary Ipomoea batatas selectionidentified as code number 99US-OR, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with a mixture of pollen from six proprietary selections ofIpomoea batatas, not patented. The cultivar Kyuikukan 2 was discoveredand selected by the Inventors as a single plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Miyazaki,Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ipomoea by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Miyazaki, Japan since December 2005, has shownthat the unique features of this new Ipomoea are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Kyuikukan 2 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Kyuikukan 2’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Kyuikukan 2’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofIpomoea:

-   -   1. Compact and outwardly trailing growth habit.    -   2. Bright green-colored young foliage and dark purple-colored        mature foliage.

Plants of the new Ipomoea can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Ipomoea differ from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ipomoea are more compact than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Ipomoea have shorter internodes than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Ipomoea have larger leaves than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Ipomoea are more high temperature tolerant        than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Ipomoea differ primarily from plants of the pollenparent selections primarily in leaf coloration.

Plants of the new Ipomoea can be compared to plants of the Ipomoeabatatas cultivar Sweet Caroline Purple, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.14,912. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Shiga, Japan, plants ofthe new Ipomoea differed from plants of the cultivar Sweet CarolinePurple in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ipomoea were shorter than plants of the        cultivar Sweet Caroline Purple.    -   2. Plants of the new Ipomoea had longer internodes than plants        of the cultivar Sweet Caroline Purple.    -   3. Plants of the new Ipomoea had larger leaves and longer        petioles than plants of the cultivar Sweet Caroline Purple.    -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Ipomoea had sagittate bases        whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Sweet Caroline Purple        had acute bases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Ipomoea, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Ipomoea.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of ‘Kyuikukan 2’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical leaves of ‘Kyuikukan 2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and valuesdescribe plants grown in Shiga, Japan in a polyethylene-coveredgreenhouse during the summer under conditions which closely approximatecommercial production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures were about 28° C. and night temperatures were about 18° C.Plants were about four months old when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the detailed description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas cultivar Kyuikukan 2.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Ipomoea batatas identified as code number 99US-OR, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—A mixture of pollen from six            proprietary selections of Ipomoea batatas, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About three days at temperature of            20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at            temperatures of 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy. Development of tubers,            ellipsoidal in shape and white in color, has been observed.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Compact and outwardly trailing plant habit.            Freely branching habit; pinching enhances lateral branch            development; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 15 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 33.6 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 12.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3.2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.3 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—187A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 12.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 12.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Roughly palmate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Sagittate.        -   Margin.—Entire; deeply lobed.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 144A;            venation, 144A. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Close            to N186A; venation, close to N186A. Fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: Close to 187C; venation, close to 187C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 10.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.8 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 144A. Color, lower surface: 187A.-   Flower description:

Plants of the new Ipomoea do not develop flowers.

-   Temperature tolerance:

Plants of the new Ipomoea have been observed to tolerate temperaturesfrom about 5° C. to about 35° C.

-   Pathogen/pest resistance:

Plants of the new Ipomoea have not been observed to be resistant topests and pathogens common to Ipomoea.

1. A new and distinct Ipomoea plant named ‘Kyuikukan 2’ as illustratedand described.